State Dining Room, Malacañan Palace
June 25, 2024
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. approved the Philippine Digital Infrastructure Project (PDIP), along with other ongoing infrastructure projects with restructuring requests, as he presided over the 18th National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Board Meeting at the State Dining Room in Malacañan Palace.
The PDIP serves as one of the flagship programs of the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), aimed at improving climate-resilient, secure and inclusive broadband connectivity in the country. Amounting to approximately PhP16 billion in overseas development assistance (ODA) loans, it is the Philippines’ first and largest ODA loan with the World Bank (WB) International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD). The project involves the construction of a public broadband infrastructure network encompassing the following five (5) major components: Backbone Network, Middle-mile Network, Access Network (Last-Mile), Network Security and Project Management Support.
Moreover, the Chief Executive approved restructuring requests for seven (7) flagship projects of the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), including the New Cebu International Container Port (NCICP) Project, the Improving Growth Corridors in Mindanao Road Sector Project (IGCMRSP), the Panguil Bay Bridge Project, the Malolos-Clark Railway Project (MCRP) – Tranche 1, the Metro Manila Flood Management Project (MMFMP) – Phase 1, the Reconstruction and Development Plan for Greater Marawi – Stage 2 and the Light Rail Transit Line 1 South Extension (L1SE).
These restructuring requests involve loan validity extensions, implementation period extensions, changes in cost and scope, among others. DOTr Secretary Jaime Bautista also announced the near completion of the LRT Line 1 Phases 1 and 2 which will start operations up to Sucat before the year ends.
The NEDA Board also approved the restructuring requests for the Local Governance Reform Project and the Infrastructure Preparation and Innovation Facility.
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